Tryout Window Update – May 2020

NorCal Tryout Window:
The tryout window is now confirmed as June 6 – July 20. Please review the updated information on the link below. The start date for the tryout window will not be pushed back again by the NorCal Board of Directors.

NorCal Recruiting Definition Update:
With the objective of providing more clarity on some grey areas associated with recruiting rules, the NorCal Board of Directors has approved an updated definition of recruiting, effective immediately (see below). This definition has been updated in the NorCal Code of Ethics, NorCal Handbook & any relevant policies/documents.

Outside the NorCal Tryout Window: “Recruiting” refers to making any contact or communication with a player who is registered with another NorCal club, in which the player is asked or allowed to join a club, attend a tryout or club training session, or play or guest play for another club, without first receiving permission from the Director of Coaching of the player’s club.

Inside the NorCal Tryout Window: “Recruiting” refers to making an initial or first contact or communication with a player who is registered with another NorCal club, in which the player is asked or allowed to join a club, attend a tryout or club training session, or guest play for another club, without first receiving permission from the Director of Coaching of the player’s club.

Note: Players do not need DOC permission to contact other clubs during the Tryout Window, and Adult members are permitted to respond to such contacts during the Tryout Window, without requesting permission from the player’s DOC.

If you have any questions about the above information, please reach out to NorCal Director of Operations, Andy Farrant ([email protected]).

The NorCal Board of Directors would like to thank all club representatives who attended last week’s online RAC meetings. Recognizing we do not have all the answers, yet we still need to make decisions, your opinions and advice have been extremely valuable.

There seems to be a consensus that one size does not fit all, that flexibility is necessary, (balanced against providing an even playing field for all clubs) and finally, that time may bring more clarity on when children can safely return to the soccer field. Our aim is to provide clubs some stability while recognizing the inherent right of a parent and player to choose where they play during the upcoming season.

Based on feedback from those RAC meetings and the recent extension of shelter-in-place mandates for much of the Bay Area, the NorCal Board has instituted the following changes to NorCal’s Tryout Window, effective immediately:

The Tryout Window has been postponed. New tentative dates for the 2020 Tryout Window are June 6 – June 26 (these dates may be subject to further revision as conditions change). The NorCal Board of Directors will confirm or adjust the revised Tryout Window (or a window for open player movement) by no later than May 29. This decision will be based on updated guidance from the State of California, public health authorities, US Soccer, US Club Soccer, and feedback from member clubs.

From now until the Tryout Window opens, existing NorCal rules regarding tryouts and recruiting still apply to all clubs:

NorCal clubs may not hold open tryouts (open to players from other NorCal clubs), in any format until the Tryout Window opens

Adult members of NorCal clubs may not initiate contact, for recruiting purposes, with any player registered in another NorCal club

Contact, for recruiting purposes, with a player registered in another NorCal club requires that the player be released, or written permission from the player’s DOC (Clubs are permitted to send generic information on tryouts to players who have contacted them)

Clubs are permitted to request commitments from their current members and may register any players who are not currently registered with another NorCal club, at any time.